The Medieval Castles

Of the three castles on the hill, nothing now survives above ground of the first one – an earthwork and timber stronghold erected by one of the stewards of the king of Scots (probably Walter, the first steward, who came to Scotland about 1136.)

A little more survives above ground of the second castle – the well which you pass as you reach the summit of the hill and the rounded stump of tower at the north=-west corner of the tower. This once mighty stone castle was built in the later 13th Century by Alexander Stewart and must have been one of the grandest baronial residences of its day. It was largely destroyed during the wars with England in the early fourteenth century. This illustration hints at the castle’s appearance about 1300.

The third castle comprises almost everything you see above ground today, including the awesome tower which dominates the hill. The castle was built by Robert Stewart, very probably to mark his accession to the throne as Robert II in1371.

It was altered and extended during the 15th century. This tower house was extended on the south to provide additional private chambers and a prison. The outer courtyard (called more properly the barmkin) was completed and ancillary buildings (stables, bakehouses, brewhouses, smithy, etc) built against the barmkin wall.

The tower house built for King Robert II (1371-90) was three storeys high. This reconstruction drawing shows how these three storeys may have been used.
The top floor above the lofty stone vault was the upper hall – the great hall. It was for the more private use of the king and family.

The first floor was the lower of the two halls – the laigh hall. It would have been used for more public activities like feasting and the holding of the baron court.

The ground floor was a storage area. It was probably originally subdivided providing cellars for different commodities like wine, ale, foodstuffs and fuel.

The original design of the tower house poses a problem; where were the king and his family expected to sleep? On beds in the great hall? Surely not! In the wall closets at either end? Maybe, but the king? There is no indication that there has been another fourth storey over this. It is a puzzle. Evidently, the omission was made good early on as an extension was built on the south side of the tower house (not shown on this drawing) which provided additional smaller chambers above a grim prison and pit.